Don't Get Scammed
Scammers are more sophisticated than ever, leveraging new technology and current events to build highly convincing traps. Anyone can be targeted. Use this master guide to spot the signs, lock down your data, and protect your finances.
| The Sign | How it Works |
| 1. They Impersonate | They pretend to be from a trusted organization (a government agency, including the DMV, tech support, or a utility company) and often spoof the caller ID or send a text message to look authentic. |
| 2. Hook | They claim there is a "problem" (you owe money, you received a ticket, a relative has an emergency) or a "prize" (you won a lottery but must pay a fee to get it). |
| 3. High Pressure | They demand immediate action, threatening arrest, legal action, or account suspension to make you panic. |
| 4. Specific Payment | They insist on untraceable payment methods, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or mailing cash. |
Your Quick Defense Checklist
- Filter & Block: Turn on your phone’s built-in tools to silence unknown callers and auto-filter spam texts.
- Slow Down: Legitimate organizations will never force you to make an immediate payment.
- Verify Independently: Never click links in unexpected alerts or texts. Type the official web address directly into your browser or call a verified public number.
- Talk It Out: Share the situation with a trusted friend or family member. Saying the story out loud often makes the fraud instantly obvious.
If you have already shared account numbers, PINs, or passwords with a suspected scammer, contact your financial institutions immediately to freeze your accounts and secure your funds. Learn more about reporting fraud here.
If you have already shared account numbers, PINs, or passwords with a suspected scammer, contact your financial institutions immediately to freeze your accounts and secure your funds. Learn more about reporting fraud here.
Security Protection (Digital) vs. Physical
- Lock Down Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for every site. Enable Two-Factor Authentication on your email, banking, and cloud services.
- Secure Your Connection: Never handle banking or sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi. Look for https:// in the URL bar to ensure an encrypted connection.
- Inspect Links Closely: Phishing sites mimic popular brands using subtle typos or extra characters (e.g., bancofamerica-security.com instead of bankofamerica.com).If you get a suspicious text supposedly from the DMV, please click here.
- Ignore Pop-Ups: Close unexpected pop-ups immediately; clicking them can trigger silent malware downloads.
- Refuse Remote Access: Never grant remote computer access to an unsolicited caller, even if they claim to be from a major tech company.
- Lighten Your Wallet: Only carry essential cards. Leave your Social Security card, birth certificate, blank checks, and excess credit cards securely at home.
- Shred & Lock: Use a locking residential mailbox and shred all bills, statements, and tax documents before discarding them.
- Keep Checks Clean: Do not print your driver’s license number or phone number on personal checks unless required by the payor.
- Monitor Your Records: Pull your credit report annually to check for unauthorized accounts.Monitor your Social Security statement for unexplained earnings.
- Deploy Fraud Alerts: If you suspect your data was leaked, place a free fraud alert on your credit file to prevent identity thieves from opening new lines of credit.
Spotting Counterfeits
Document Red Flags
Today’s software makes it incredibly easy to spoof legitimate branding. Look closely for:
- Generic Greetings: Phrases like "Dear Customer" or "Valued Citizen" instead of your actual name.
- Phony Agencies: Government or corporate entities with official-sounding names that do not actually exist.
- Poor Quality: Low-resolution logos, pixelated graphics, awkward layouts, or forced, overly formal language.
Watch out for the "Follow Up" Scam
If you have fallen victim to a scam, fraudsters will often target you a second time using a different angle, or sell your name to other scammers. Be on high alert for:
- Fake Law Enforcement: A caller offering to recover your stolen money for an upfront fee. (Note: Real law enforcement never charges a fee to investigate.)
- The Medical Emergency: A caller claiming the original scammer is critically ill and needs you to pay their urgent medical bills.
- The Relative: Someone pretending to be the scammer’s spouse or family member claiming they want to help you get your money back, but need cash to facilitate it.
To learn how to report fraud, please visit our report identity theft webpage.